Showcase construction



1970 RCA. SCHOTTLAND 3,544,181

SHOWCASE CONSTRUCTION Filed July 24. 1968 ROBEQTA. SCHOTTLA ND BY /%4%ATTOR N EYS US. Cl. 312-114 United States Patent 3,544,181 SHOWCASECONSTRUCTION Robert A. Schottland, Ashland, Ky., assignor to CastleShowcase Co., Ashland, Ky., a partnership Filed July 24, 1968, Ser. No.747,273 Int. Cl. A47f 3/00 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Asimplified showcase construction wherein the glass wall panels arereceived in essentially rigid plastic extrusions, the extrusions beingconfigured to receive and cushion the end edges of the glass panels aswell as their opposite marginal side edges, the plastic extrusions ormounting members being of a width to be received in U-shaped channelsdefining the supporting frame of the showcase, the mounting members in apreferred embodiment each defining a longitudinal glass receiving cavityoffset laterally with respect to the longitudinal center line of themounting member, whereby abutting channel-shape frame members may beoverlapped at their abutting ends and the positions of the mountingmembers received therein reversed so as to bring their longitudinalcavities into axial alignment in spite of the offset relationship of thechannel-shaped frames.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The edges of a sheet of glass are relativelyfragile as compared to its surfaces and in the mounting of sheets ofglass care must be taken to cushion their edges against shock. Theproblem of shock intensifies as the size and Weight of the sheetsincreases, and numerous expedients have hitherto been proposed formounting sheets of glass to cushion them against shock.

Various types of mastics have been employed to cushion the edges of thesheet. Such mastics, which include conventional glazing putty, areuseful only where the sheets of glass are relatively small; and evenhere mastics have been found unsatisfactory where the mounted glass mustbe transported from one location to another. This is due to the factthat the glass will bottom in transit, the relatively sharp edges of theglass cutting through the mastic and hence contacting the supportingframe, thereby losing the cushioning effect. In this connection, itshould be explained that when a sheet of glass is cut, it does not breakofl square to form a planar end edge lying at right angles to thesurfaces of the sheet. Rather, the cut edge is usually somewhat curvedin cross section having a pointed edge at one side which is literallyrazor sharp and hence can readily cut through the supporting mastic.

While it has been proposed to wrap the edges of the sheets with tape orother protective materials and/or seat the edges of the sheet on rubberstrips or other resilient cushioning material, such expedients have notfully solved the problem. If the glass sheets are relatively heavy, theystill have a tendency to bottom, and while supporting wood shims orother forms of shims may be employed to support the weight of the glass,the problem of providing a uniform shock resisting cushion still exists.

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The instant invention seeks to overcome the mounting difiicultiesenumerated above by providing a mounting in the form of a continuoussling in which the glass panels are effectively suspended, the slingcomprising a plastic mounting member formed from an essentially rigidyet resilient plastic material configured in such a way as to securelyyet resiliently mount the sheets and at the same time preventing therazor like edges of the sheets from cutting into the mounting. Thepresent invention also eliminates the need for edge wrapping or othertime consuming manual operations, the user having only to insert theplastic mounting members in a channel-shaped supporting frame followedby the insertion of the glass sheets.

RESUME OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a mounting member forglass sheets and the like comprising a plastic extrusion formed from aplastic material which is essentially rigid but nonetheless capable offlexing under impact. While the specific material from which themounting members are formed does not constitute a limitation on theinvention, the so-called rigid vinyl plastics, such as polyvinylchloride, has been found to be Well suited for the purpose.

The mounting members are of generally rectangular configuration and areformed with relatively thin walls, although the thickness of the wallswill be determined by the size and weight of the glass panels with whichthe mounting members are used. In a typical construction for showcasepurposes, the Walls of the members will have a thickness of from about.020".O40".

. Each extrusion comprises a pair of opposing side walls interconnectedintermediate their opposite ends by a transversely disposed supportingmember having a longitudinally extending rib which is preferablysemicircular in cross section, the rib underlying a longitudinal cavitydefined by an opposing pair of flanges integrally secured to the sidewalls by wall-forming sections extending inwardly from the ends of theside wall panels in parallel relation to the supporting member.

The mounting member is adapted to be received in a U-shaped supportingframe member with the bottom ends of the side Walls seated against thebottom surface of the channel and with the wall forming sectionsoutermost, preferably in general alignment with the outermost edges ofthe channel shaped frame member. The cavity defining flanges are spacedapart so as to just nicely receive and cushion the marginal side edgesof a piece of glass inserted therein, with the end edge of the glassseated on the semicircular rib of the underlying supporting member.

The glass is thus spaced upwardly from the bottom of the channel in theframe member by means of the transverse supporting member and itslongitudinal rib. The rib serves a dual function of supporting the endedge of the glass sheet in such a Way that its sharp edge does not cutinto the mounting member, and at the same time it strengthens andreinforces the transversely disposed supporting member. Being formedfrom plastic, the parts nonetheless are capable of flexing and bendingsufliciently to absorb shock.

While the instant invention will find particular utility in themanufacture of showcases and similar articles which the instantinvention.

are factory assembled and shipped to the user in assembled condition,the principles of the instant invention are also applicable to in situinstallations and the mounting members of the instant invention may beutilized in conjunction with window glass, show windows or likeinstallations. j 7

By providing channel-shaped supporting frame members to support themounting members, it is also possible to effect simple corner jointssimply by overlapping the ing members will bring their longitudinalcavities into alignment in spite of the fact that the channel members inwhich they are received are offset with respect to each ,other.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a prespective view of a showcase embodying FIG. 2is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 2--2 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a length of a mounting member.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along the line 4-4of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view'taken along the line5-5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the corner assembly shown inFIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to FIG. 1 of thedrawings, there is illustrated an exemplary showcase lhaving a base 2 onwhich a paneljsupporting frame is mounted, the panel supporting framecomprising horizontally disposed frame members 3 and vertically disposed.frame members or corner posts 4; Glass panels 5 are supported by theframe members to define the walls of the showcase, and a suit- Thevertical frame members or corner port 4 are preferably of identicalconstruction so that the entire frame I structure may be fabricated fromthe same frame-forming stock. Thus, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 6, themembers 4 j are each configured to define U-shaped channels 16 and 17having an intermediate channel member 18 defining the base of channel 17and also the inner channel member of channel 16, the channel 16 havingan outer channel member 19 and a base channel member 20 which extends todefine the outer member of channel 17. An inner channel member 21integrally connected to channel member 18 defines the inner side ofchannel 17.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the channels 7, 16 and17'will be of equal width and the vertical frame members 4 are adaptedto seat in the channel 7 in themanner illustrated in FIG. 2, thechannelmembers 19 and 20 being juxtaposed to the inner surfaces of outerchannel members 9 of the horizontal frame 3, with the channel member 18projecting inwardly and the channel member 21 juxtaposed to theinnermost surface of the adjoining inner channel member 8 of thehoriztonal frame 3. To this end, it will be understood that the end edgeof the channel member 8 abutting the channel member 18 will be cut awayso that the channel memchannel member 9 projects downwardly beyond theintermediate channel member 10 where it serves, as a base for a secondchannel 11 having an outer channel member 12,.the channel 11 serving toreceive the edge of a bottom panel 13 (FIG. 6) for the showcase whichmay be formed from wood, composition board or the like. The

bottom panel may be conveniently secured to the base 2 or used as amounting means for legs or the like which support the showcase.

All four sides of the horizontal frame members 3 may be formed from asingle length of materiaLsuch as ex truded aluminum, the intermediatechannel member 10 and the outer channelmember 12 being severed to removetriangular areas having their apices abutting the channel member 9 atwhat will be the corners of the frame, whereuponthe channel member 9will be bent at right angles at the cut outs to define the corners, thesevered 7 may be employed at the top of the showcase to support thecounter top 6, in which event it will be inverted so that the channel 11will project inwardly so as to engage the marginal edges of the countertop 6, the counter top being supported on the intermediate channelmember 10 with the outer channel member 12 forming a marginal bandoverlying the marginal edges ofthe counter top;

ber 18 may project inwardly so as to place member 21 inside channelmember, 8. Metal screws 31 or similar fastening means extend through"channel members 9 and 20 to secure together the horizontal and verticalframe members at each corner of the; case.

A plastic mounting member is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the mountingmember comprising a spaced apart pair of side walls 22 and 23interconnected by a transversely disposed. supporting member 24 having alongitudinally extending semicircular rib. 25 projecting upwardly towardthe opposing inturned flanges 26 and 27 which define a longitudinalcavity 28 therebetween overlying the rib 25. The flanges 26 and 27 areconnected to-the wall forming sections 29 and 30 respectively,projecting inwardly from the ends of the side walls 22 and 23.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the wall forming section 29is of a greaterwidth than the section 30 thereby offsetting the cavity28 with respect to the longitudinal center line of the mounting member,in which event the rib 25 will also be offset so as to underlie theoffset cavity 28. It is also preferred that the flanges 26 and 27incline inwardly relative to each other in the manner illustrated inFIG. ,4 so that upon insertion of the glass, the flanges will be flexedoutwardly to firmly engage the opposite sides of the glass.

The manner in which the mounting members are fitted in thechannel-shaped frame members 3 and 4 can be best seen in -FIGS. 5 and 6,;it being understood that the mounting members will simply be pressedinto the channels, their width being such that they will be snuglyreceived therein. Preferably, the length of the channels will be suchthat the end edges of the wall forming sections 29 and 30 will abut atthe corners of the case, al-

though contact is not required and the adjoining mounting members may bespaced apart a short distance without impairing their effectiveness.

In order to maintain the longitudinal cavities of both the horizontaland vertically disposed mounting members in alignment even though thechannels in the supporting frame members are oflset laterally withrespect to each other, it is only necessary toreversethe position inwhich they are inserted in thechannels. Thus, as will be clearlyapparent from FIG. 5, the mounting members in the horizontally disposedframe members 3 arepositioned with the wider wall jforming sections 29outermost, whereas the mounting members inserted in the vertical framemembers 4 are positioned with the narrower wall forming sections 30outermost. By making a the difference in width between the wider andnarrower wall forming sections 28 and 29 substantially equal to thelateral offset of the channels in the horizontal and vertical framemembers relative to each other, the longitudinal cavities 28 in themounting members will be brought into planar alignment and hencepositioned to receive the adjacent edges of the glass panels 5.

FIG. also serves to illustrate the manner in which the semicircular ribscushion the end edges of the glass. As previously indicated, when theglass panels are cut, the glass breaks at an angle to define an edge 31which is extremely sharp. It will be evident that the semicircular rib25 is so arranged that it supports the major extent of the inclined endsurface of the glass and yet is not directly contacted by the sharp edge31 to the extent that such edge will cut into either rib 25 or thesupporting member 24.

'As should be evident, the dimensions of the parts do not constitute alimitation on the invention and may be varied in accordance with thestrength requirements for any given application. Generally speaking,where an essentially rigid vinyl plastic is used to form the mountingmembers, a wall thickness of .020" is suitable for use with the glasssheets having a thickness up to A". As the thickness of the glassincreases, it is desirable to increase the Wall thickness of themounting members. For example, excellent results have been obtainedusing a wall .thickness of .030" for /8" glass, .035" for glass, and.040" wall thickness for glass over in thickness. It will be understood,of course, that where large areas of glass are involved, it may bedesirable to increase the relative thickness of the members,particularly the bottom mounting member used to support a verticallydisposed sheet of glass.

It will be evident that modifications may be made in the inventionwithout departing from its spirt and purpose. Various such modificationshave already been discussed and others will undoubtedly occur to theskilled worker in the art upon reading this specification. For example,where the longitudinal channels in the horizontal and verticalsupporting frame members are in axial alignment, as opposed to beingoffset in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2, the wall forming sections 29and 30 may be of equal width with the cavity 28 and underlying rib 25medially disposed between the side walls 22 and 23. Similarly, thespecific form of the frame members may be changed and differentconfigurations may be employed for the horizontal and vertical members.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A unitary mounting member for a sheet of glass, said mounting memberbeing formed from an essentially rigid yet resilient plastic materialand comprising a pair of opposing side walls, a transversely disposedsupporting member interconnecting said side walls intermediate theiropposite ends, with the ends of said side walls projecting freely beyondsaid supporting member in one direction, said supporting member having ahollow rib of semicircular cross section extending lengthwise thereofintermediate said opposing side walls, a pair ofwall forming sectionsextending inwardly from the opposite ends of said opposing side wallsand terminating inwardly in a pair of spaced apart inturned flangeslying on opposite sides of said lengthwise rib, said flanges projectingfreely inwardly toward said rib with said rib and said flanges defininga longitudinal cavity adapted to receive the marginal edge of a sheet ofglass with the end edge of the glass sheet seated on said rib and theinner surfaces of said flanges juxtaposed to the opposite surfaces ofsaid glass sheet, said flanges. being initially slightly inclined towardeach other and spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to thethickness of the glass sheet engaged between said flanges, the said wallsurfaces, supporting member, rib and flanges coacting to flexiblysuspend said glass sheet for multidirectional displacement in theabsence of rigid clamping, whereby the glass sheet is at all times freeto move and flex relative to the mounting member even when the mountingmember is twisted or flexed.

2. The mounting member claimed in claim 1 wherein said longitudinalcavity is offset laterally with respect to the longitudinal center lineof said mounting member.

3. The mounting member claimed in claim 1 wherein said lengthwise ribhas a cross-sectional diameter substantially equal to the Width of saidcavity at its juncture with said wall forming sections.

4. The mounting member claimed in claim 3 wherein the wall surfaces ofsaid mounting member, including said supporting member, said rib, andsaid flanges, have a thickness of from about .020" to about .040".

5. In a showcase or like structure comprising horizontal and verticalframe members interconnected at their ends to form a glass receivingframe, said frame members having walls defining U-shaped channelstherein, the improvement which comprises unitary glass receivingmounting members inserted in said channels, each of said mountingmembers being formed from an essentially rigid yet resilient plasticmaterial and comprising a pair of opposing side walls, a transverselydisposed supporting member interconnecting said side walls intermediatetheir ends with the ends of said side walls projecting freely beyondsaid supporting member in one direction, said supporting member having ahollow rib of semicircular cross section extending lengthwise thereofintermediate said opposing side walls, a pair of wall forming sectionsextending inwardly from the opposite ends of said opposing side wallsand, terminating inwardly in a pair of spaced apart inturned flangeslying on opposite sides of said lengthwise rib, said flanges projectingfreely inwardly toward said rib with said rib and said flanges defininga longitudinal cavity adapted to receive the marginal edge of a sheet ofglass with an end edge of the glass sheet seated on said rib and theinner surfaces of said flanges juxtaposed to the opposite surfaces ofthe glass sheet, said flanges being initially slightly inclined towardeach other and spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to thethickness of the glass sheet engaged between said flanges, the said wallsurfaces, supporting member, rib and flanges all being of a uniformthickness of from about .020" to .040 and coacting to flexibly suspendsaid glass sheet for multidirectional displacement in the absence ofrigid clamping, whereby the glass sheet is at all times free to move andflex relative to the mounting members even when the said frame membersare twisted or flexed.

6. The structure claimed in claim 5 wherein the ends of said verticalframe members overlap the ends of said horizontal frame members so thatthe longitudinal axes of their respective channels are offset laterallywith respect to each other by the thickness of the channel walls,wherein the longitudinal cavities in said mounting members are offsetlaterally with respect to the longitudinal center lines of said mountingmembers by a distance equal to the thickness of said channel walls, andwherein the mounting members inserted in the laterally ofl'set channelsare in end-to-end reversed position with respect to the mounting membersinserted in the remaining channels, whereby to bring the longitudinalaxes of the cavities in the mounting members into planar alignmentirrespective of the oflFset relationship of the channels in which theyare inserted.

7. The structure claimed in claim 6 wherein both the vertical and thehorizontal frame members are of the same configuration, each such framemember having a pair of channels formed therein lying at right angles toeach other, wherein the showcase has upper and lower horizontal framemembers, wherein one of the channels in each of said lower frame membersis positioned to receive an edge of a bottom wall for said showcase, andwherein one of the channels in each of said upper frame 7 I V 8 Imembers is positioned to receive an edge of a counter top 2,872,2662/1959 Holderle 312-114 X for said showcase. t 3,346,310 10/1967 Diack312--114 X References Cited I 3,363,390 1/1968 Crane .1 52-627 X UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 5/1963 Adell 52-627 X 1,104,868 7/ 1914 Bolin 5 NILEC.BYERS, 111., Primary Examiner 1,162,722 11/ 1915' Jacobson 52-6271,488,095 3/1924 Connell 52'494 US. Cl. X.R.

2,190,263 2/1940' Gerland 52--627 52627

